Masters of deception, most of the 1,800 mantid species employ camouflage to
escape theirown enemies while duping potentialvictims into venturingnear.
Some imitate not only the color but also the shape and texture of their
surroundings.Flatteningitselfagainsta twig, a mantis of Angola (genus
Tarachodes, above) casts virtually no shadow, a furtheraid in its disappearing
NationalGeographic,February1984
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